Paddock Boots with Turbo Tread?

[BatataHead]

I really want to find paddock boots with super high octane tread. I usually ride in Ariats, but have have tried other paddock boots, and without beefy tread I am a little insecure in two point about the feeling of my feet sliding backwards off of the stirrups. It hasn’t actually happened - but it is a yucky feeling. I’ve tried riding in stirrups wrapped with the grippy plastic stuff, or wrapped in vetwrap - doesn’t help that feeling much. The other day I rode in my LL Bean duck boots and oh my - it felt great. They have great tread and a secure feel. I felt I could get up off my horse’s back and negotiate anything.

No issues when riding dressage since I’m actually sitting down and just resting my feet in the stirrups. But if I’m up out of the saddle jumping or riding hilly terrain, I want to feel that when I put weight in my stirrups and my heel is really sinking deep with the movement, that I’m not going to slip out the back end.

Any suggestions? Or am I just being a baby about this (since it hasn’t actually happened?).

[Guilherme]

There’s a real danger in riding in too aggressive a tread, to wit: a foot hanging up in a stirrup in the event of an unplanned dismount.

How aggressive is “too aggressive?” It depends on the stirrup design, particularly the insert or “cheese grater” type. You’ve to to match the sole to the stirrup.

A modest “grip” on the sole is likely OK. I buy riding boots with very mild soles. Most of mine are Dehners. Here is their sole offerings. http://dehner.com/customize.html I don’t like t leather; it just doesn’t feel good to me. I usually get the composition sole. It has enough grip but not too much…for me!

Down the list you’ll see the sort of sole materials that work great on M1 Abrams tank decks but would be a “death wish” on pair of riding boots.

While this is a personal thing the laws of physics (particularly materials science) apply to us all!

G.

[BatataHead]

Well, Guillherme, you are the voice of reason. The death grip effect has crossed my mind.

No way am I two-pointing in leather soled boots, if that means smooth soles. I’ll check the Dehner sole options.

[NoSuchPerson]

You might look at Blundstones. Some styles have that sort of intermediate tread that is safe to ride in, but still gives a little grip. I will ride in the 500, but to me, it’s right on the edge of too much tread. The 062 and 063 have a less aggressive tread, but I’ve never tried that style, so can’t compare it to Ariats.

[cutter99]

What about a different pad on your stirrup?

Guilherme is correct about hanging up a foot in a stirrup. As someone who has done it, I do not recommend it.

[BatataHead]

@cutter99

What about a different pad on your stirrup?

Guilherme is correct about hanging up a foot in a stirrup. As someone who has done it, I do not recommend it.

Ok. I really long for some super tread paddock boots but I do get the danger. I’ve not tried cheese graters because I’m worried they’ll tear up my boot tread. I’ve tried these:

http://www.doversaddlery.com/super-comfort-stirrup-pads/p/w1-c0752a/?eid=X18A00U1000&utm_source=google&utm_medium=PLA&utm_campaign=NB_PLA_Retail_West_GOOG&adpos=1o2&creative=182747331826&device=c&matchtype=&network=g

but they don’t seem to make the difference that say my Bean Boots do.

Any suggestions? I’ve never hung a foot but I will recognize that being hung up and dragged is a nightmare scenario. I will say that I have a little over 1/4 inch clearance even in the Bean Boots on both sides of my foot - that’s got to count for something. I’ve never had a foot go forward in a stirrup and get stuck. (am I just making excuses now? I don’t know).

[hillary_again]

I get this same feeling and it’s a notice that I need to change my stirrup pads. I ride in Dehner paddock boots with composition soles. Changing the pads seems to work! They don’t look that worn, but must wear exactly where I need the grip. Good luck!

[BatataHead]

@hillary again

I get this same feeling and it’s a notice that I need to change my stirrup pads. I ride in Dehner paddock boots with composition soles. Changing the pads seems to work! They don’t look that worn, but must wear exactly where I need the grip. Good luck!

Do you use the regular rubber insert pads? I actually can’t remember the last time I changed mine out. Maybe I just need some fresh ones with nice new unworn nubs. I’ll pop a new set in and see how it feels. They are certainly cheap enough to change out frequently if that’s all it takes!

[sophie]

Before splurging for Ariat paddock boots I used to ride in my hiking boots. Good thread on those. I really don’t see how the thread would cause your foot to be stuck in the stirrup…

[BatataHead]

Ok, I feel a little silly. I popped in new pads (just the normal white ones) with really nice fresh unworn “pyramids” and that did the trick. I just need to change my stirrup pads out often, I think. Kind of amazing how a little wear/smoothing can make such a big difference.

[chantal]

@BatataHead

Ok, I feel a little silly. I popped in new pads (just the normal white ones) with really nice fresh unworn “pyramids” and that did the trick. I just need to change my stirrup pads out often, I think. Kind of amazing how a little wear/smoothing can make such a big difference.

Don’t feel silly, feel great you figured it out, without spending $200 on new boots.

[amb]

@NoSuchPerson

You might look at Blundstones. Some styles have that sort of intermediate tread that is safe to ride in, but still gives a little grip. I will ride in the 500, but to me, it’s right on the edge of too much tread.

I wonder if I just got a dud pair or two, but I go through Blundstone 500s on a regular basis (well, 510s, same boot but black), and my last two pairs have had the soles start peeling off even when the uppers were in good shape. I wish I knew what was up with that. (On the other hand, the stuff under the glued-on rubber tread holds a stirrup fine!)

[BatataHead]

@amb

I wonder if I just got a dud pair or two, but I go through Blundstone 500s on a regular basis (well, 510s, same boot but black), and my last two pairs have had the soles start peeling off even when the uppers were in good shape.

This happened with mine. I got a pair of 500s about a few years ago. Never rode in them- just wore them around in the winter. Put them away in the closet over summer. Got them out the next winter and the soles had rotted / rubber peeled away.

My best paddock boots were brown lace up boot (I think Ariats?) from 1984-ish. I could not kill them. I rode in them, walked through muddy paddocks, washed horses, cleaned stalls and abused them at the barn for about 4 years. Never conditioned them except for a couple of times when I first got them (when I gave them a good going over with mink oil). Then quit riding and they moved from place to place with me for another 5-6 years. Pulled them out of the closet one day and they were perfect. They wore like iron. I wore them as walking/ casual shoes a couple of years and finally gave them to Goodwill (why??? I was so dumb) because brown isn’t my color.

Now I go through a pair of Ariats about every 1.5 years/2 years.